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Incident: Emirates A388 at Moscow on Sep 10th 2017, go around from about 400 feet AGL 8nm before runway
By Simon Hradecky, created Monday, Sep 18th 2017 12:55Z, last updated Friday, Sep 22nd 2017 15:38Z
An Emirates Airbus A380-800, registration A6-EEZ performing flight EK-131 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Moscow Domodedovo (Russia) with 420 passengers and 26 crew, was positioning for an approach to Domodedovo's runway 14R about to intercept the localizer about 8nm before the runway threshold when the aircraft descended to about 400 feet AGL, initiated a go around following an EGPWS warning and climbed straight ahead to safe altitude while crossing through the localizer. The aircraft subsequently positioned for another approach to runway 14R, aligned with the extended runway center line but did not initiate the final descent and joined the missed approach procedure as result. The aircraft positioned again for an approach to runway 14R and landed without further incident on runway 14R about 35 minutes after the first go around (from 400 feet AGL).

Position and Altitude data transmitted by the aircraft's transponder suggest the aircraft was tracking about 190 degrees magnetic when the aircraft initiated the go around at about 1000 feet MSL about 8nm before the runway threshold, which translates to about 400 feet AGL with the aerodrome elevation at 180 meters/592 feet MSL.

The airline told The Aviation Herald on Sep 18th 2017, that the occurrence is being investigated by United Arab Emirates' Civil Aviation Authority GCAA, the airline apologizes that due to the investigation no further details can be provided.

The GCAA have already sent a first preliminary reply indicating the communication department is about to respond to the questions.

On Sep 19th 2017 the GCAA reported that the occurrence of the A380 descending below the glideslope on approach to runway 14R at Moscow Deomodedovo Airport was rated a serious incident and is being investigated by UAE's Air Accident Investigation Sector (AAIS). There were no injuries and no damage to the aircraft.

On Sep 22nd 2017 the GCAA stated to other accident investigation bodies: "During the approach, the aircraft descended to 400 ft, approximately 7.5 Nm inbound on the runway while attempting to intercept the ILS for landing. The EGPWS alerted the pilots and the crew aborted the landing. A second approach was unsuccessful and aborted. The aircraft landed safely on the third approach." The occurrence was rated a serious incident and is being investigated by the GCAA's AAIS.

Russia's Rosaviatsia (Civil Aviation Authority) have not yet replied to the inquiry by The Aviation Herald.

According to Russia's news agency Interfax the aircraft was cleared to descend to 500 meters (editorial note: heights in meters QFE are given by ATC below transition altitude, above transition altitude altitudes in feet are provided) however descended too fast and below the assigned height.